A host file may be supplied to the pvmd (or console, which
passes it to the pvmd) as a command-line parameter.
Each line of the file contains a host name followed by option parameters.
Hosts not preceded by '&' are started automatically as soon as
the master pvmd is ready.
The syntax:

* option option ...

changes the default parameters for subsequent hosts (both those in the
host file and those added later).
Default statements are not cumulative;
each applies to the system defaults.
For example, after the following two host file entries:

* dx=pvm3/lib/pvmd
* ep=/bin:/usr/bin:pvm3/bin/$PVM_ARCH

only ep is changed from its system default
(dx is reset by the second line).
To set multiple defaults,
combine them into a single line.